Crisis Core Book One~Chapter Three

What is Angeal thinking? It has been one month already. Everyone thinks that he is working with Genesis. Even Sephiroth…thinks that as well. The 2nd and 3rd class SOLDIERs who were with Genesis…where are they? Using copies to attack us? Angeal would never forgive something like that! He holds his pride as a SOLDIER dearer than anyone, why did he disappear? What the hell is going on? Angeal! It doesn’t matter anymore just hurry back here!

Zack stood in the SOLDIER lounge confused in his thoughts. He was growing more and more frustrated by over the current events as each second passed. He was awaken out of his thoughts when he received a strange phone call.

“SOLDIER 2 nd Class, Zack?”

“That would be me. Who is this?”

“Director Lazard wants to see you. Go to the briefing room.”

“Hey! Wait!”

The line went dead a few seconds later. He closed his phone and slipped it back in his pocket. “Who was that?” he wondered aloud then headed to the briefing room. He hoped this meeting was about Angeal.

“Any word on Angeal?” Zack asked as soon as he arrived.

Lazard shook his head. “He hasn’t contacted his family either.”

Zack let out a sigh. “So what’s this about?”

“A new assignment. I want you to go to the hometown of our missing 1 st class, Genesis.”

“Huh?”

“According to the parents, they’ve had no contact with Genesis whatsoever. But they can’t be trusted.”

“Why?”

“They’re his family.”

“Oh.” Zack nodded. “Uh-huh.”

“I had already dispatched some of the staff, but we lost contact. I want you to go and investigate. He will go with you.”

Zack turned at the sound of footsteps behind him.

“Tseng, of the Turks,” the new arrival said.

“This job is looking really gloomy…”

“Let me know when you’re ready to go,” Tseng told him.

Zack nodded then looked away from him. He sighed.

“Ready to go?” Tseng observed.

“A routine job, right? No sweat!”

“I wonder…” Tseng started to say. “Originally Sephiroth was assigned to this mission. That means it is a top-priority matter. Be alert or you’ll fail.”

“And Sephiroth?”

“Refusing to go, apparently.”

“Oh, what is that? They spoil him too much!”

“Hm. Why don’t you say that to his face?”

“Uh, no thanks!” Zack said nervously with his hands together pleading not to do what Tseng had suggested.

~~~~

“Weird trees,” Zack stated.

“They’re White Banora Trees, otherwise known as Dumbapples.”

“Which this means this is the Banora Village? Angeal’s hometown?!”

“Exactly. It would appear that Genesis and Angeal are old friends.”

Zack whirled around when he heard something then pulled out his sword. He ran forward and finished off one. He then spun his blade and sliced the other one down.

“It seems they’ve arrived in the village as well. The safety of the villagers is what concerns me. It’s possible that they have taken the villagers as hostages. With weapons of mass destruction we’ll get rid of Genesis and his accomplices, that’s what the President plans to do, so it would be best if we moved quickly.”

“Alright, leave it to me.”

Zack walked along a trail until he arrived outside a residence. He was greeting by some troops and a giant spider-like robot. “Hopefully a challenge for once.” He held his sword out in front of him with one hand then decided to wipe out the troops first. One ran toward him. Zack forced the hilt of his sword into the troop’s chest. He fell gasping for breath while ran for the other while dodging the robot’s bullets. He slid a foot under the second troop’s feet and sliced at his chest. Zack then turned toward the robot.

“Alright you’re next,” he said with a slight grin on his face. He held his blade to the right then ran toward it. He brought the sword straight across its middle then sliced at it diagonally. He made a few more slashing movements till the sparks inside had lit up to show a star before exploding. Zack leapt out of the way just in time. He looked at one of the troops then removed his helmet.

“A Genesis copy,” Zack said calmly. He hasn’t seen one since the night Angeal disappeared. He didn’t have to wonder why he saw one here in Banora.

“Where did you hear that?” Tseng had just arrived and walked past him.

“Sephiroth said it.”

“The technology was stolen from our scientists.”

“Huh?”

“It apparently allows Genesis’s abilities and traits to be transplanted to SOLDIER members…and monsters.”
“SOLDIER and monsters…we’re the same?”

Zack turned his attention to the robot remains, but he didn’t have long to study it. Tseng was walking to whatever was the next destination that he had in mind.

“This is Genesis’s home. His parents are wealthy landowners.”

Moments of silence followed after. Zack remembered something that Angeal said. He stared intently at the Banora tree.

“But I never stole from that tree because the wealthy man’s son was my friend.”

“They weren’t mere acquaintances. They grew up together, and were best friends,” Tseng informed him breaking him from his thoughts. Zack took a few steps till he was standing next to Tseng.

“So Genesis deserts and gets his best friend Angeal to join him. Is that it?”

“Sephiroth believes that is the case. There… A gravestone. Still very new. Zack, go find Angeal’s house. I’ll check the grave.” Tseng walked in the general direction of the grave while Zack followed him.

“Ugh…so Turks always do this stuff.”

“Someone has to do it.”

Zack stopped walking for a moment. “Must be rough…”

“Don’t worry. We’re paid much better than you are.”

“No way!”

Zack left Tseng to his job to go find Angeal’s home. He arrives in the center of the small village, but was surprised by seeing no one around. It seemed like a ghost town. He goes further into the village to investigate. He opened a door to one of houses and saw an elderly woman inside. He shut the door behind him. She looked toward him and smiled.

“Can I help you?”

“Uh…uh, greetings, ma’am. Are you Angeal’s mother? Um…my name is Zack.”

“Are you Zack, the puppy?”

“Excuse me?”

She chuckled then said, “My son wrote to me once about you. Zero attention span, restless as a little puppy.”

“Thanks, Angeal,” he grumbled.

“You’re not here together with Genesis, are you?”

“No, I’m not. Don’t worry.”

“What is happening with my son?”

“I’m not really sure.”

She looked away from and kept her gaze on the table. “Genesis came back here, a month ago, with an army of cohorts. And they proceeded to take the lives of many townspeople. Genesis…he used to be such a good boy…”

“Is Angeal…?”

“He came here. But, he left his sword and went off somewhere.” She moved her gaze back onto him while he looked to his left. He saw the sword and walked over to it.

“That sword represents our family honor,” she said, breaking the silence.

“I see…no wonder… He never uses this sword, really ever.” He took two steps towards her and knelt down on one knee. “I’ll take care of Angeal. You should go and hide somewhere.”
“Don’t be concern. Genesis…cannot harm me.”

He got up then look back at the sword. He left the house to continue his search for Angeal.

“Angeal, where are you?” His phone broke the silence.

“Zack, I believe I have found the base for the Genesis clones. I need you to head over here immediately.”

“Right, just tell me where I need to go.”

“Head out of town towards the mountains, there should be a path.” The line went dead. Zack put his phone away and starts to trek toward Tseng’s direction.

“Genesis’s parents were in that grave.”

“Wait, he…his own family?”

“We can’t expect reason from him. What about Angeal?”

“He wasn’t at the house. But please, give me time. If I find Angeal, I can talk to him. If I can convince Angeal, maybe…just maybe Genesis will come back, too.”

“I understand now why Sephiroth choose you.”

“Huh?”

“Genesis and Angeal. Those two were Sephiroth’s only friends. He didn’t want to fight them so he refused the mission.”

“Well, Angeal is my friend, too.”
“Sephiroth is counting on you to bring those two back. Time is short. Let’s go.”

Zack goes down and breaks into the complex then is greeted by more Genesis copies. “More fun for me, eh? Tseng go on ahead…I’ll catch up.” He grinned then charged toward a clone while Tseng goes to a computer to gain access to the information on the clones.

“But I have no time to play long so… Hyah!” He took one out in two blows then went on to the next. He decided he wasn’t going to be fancy with his moves like normal. He struck each one down with simple attacks then ran into the next room.

“ ‘Ripples form on the water’s surface. The wandering soul knows no rest.’ ”

Zack stared into Genesis’s eyes with an uncertain intensity.

“Settle down…Zack the puppy.”

Zack grimaced then looked to his side when Tseng arrived.

“The grave at the house… We found the remains of our people there as well.”

“It didn’t take much to have them send false reports. Just some mild threats…”

“They would have done that anyway. At least your parents would have,” Zack told him.

“My ‘parents’ betrayed me. They had always betrayed me, from the very beginning. What do you know? Shinra lapdogs!”

Genesis attacked Tseng with fire while Zack pulled out his sword to ready himself for battle. Angeal appeared out of nowhere holding Zack’s sword towards Genesis.

“Welcome partner.” Genesis held out his arms with a sly smile on his face. “I see…you’ve finally made your decision. I’ll respect your wishes, old friend. However…” Genesis walked till he was standing close to Angeal, but didn’t look at him as he spoke. “Can you really live on that side?” He walked on without waiting for the answer.

“Angeal!” Zack said, relieved. He walked over to him, but Angeal pushed him away and stabbed the sword into the floor. He walked away without saying a word. Zack stood there for moment stunned then yanked his blade out of the floor. He ran out of the room to hopefully pursue after Angeal.

“Dammit! Where did they go?!” he said when he lost track of them. He saw the door that led to the outside. He opens it, but is surprised by the monster that pops out. The monsters fell down after a few bullet shots sounded.

“There isn’t much time left. We need to leave the village soon,” Tseng told him.

“Are we not going to go look for those two!?”

“Any trace of this deplorable will be erased. That’s the method the company has decided on. There will be an aerial bombing on this village. Back at Angeal’s home was there really no one there?”

Zack didn’t say a word.

“Hurry!”

More monsters start to make an appearance and Tseng clears the way for Zack to get through. Zack continues his chase then arrives at Angeal’s home. He stopped stone cold at the sight on the floor. He looked to his right and saw Angeal standing there.

“What the hell did you do, Angeal?” Zack asked as he forced Angeal against the wall while holding him by his collar. He jerked him from that wall and threw him out the door. “Is that…is that your idea of honor?”

Angeal slightly sat up and said, “My mother…could not continue to live. And neither can the son.”

He stood up and looked Zack into the eyes.

“What are you talking about? What is going on here?!”

“I told you…” Genesis said smugly. “You can’t live on that side anymore.”

Angeal placed his sword on his back then walked away. “Angeal!” Zack tried to run after him, but Genesis tripped him. He fell to the ground and called after Angeal again.

“ ‘My friend, do you fly away now? To a world that abhors you and I?’ ”

“Shut up!”

“ ‘All that awaits you is a somber morrow.” Zack continued to scream at him to shut up. “ ‘No matter the winds may blow.’ ”

Zack got on one knee and looked up at Genesis. “I don’t see Sephiroth today, but… are you game?” Zack stood up slowly and realized Genesis was summoning another creature.

“Not again…” He had to drawn his sword and brace himself for the attack coming toward him. There was no way for him to avoid it. He saw a blinding blue light from behind the shelter of his arms and sword. “Using the big attacks first, huh? Not a smart move…” Zack muttered lowly. He felt the ground beneath him crumble. When he felt the force around him cease he looked up and glowered at the giant monster as it flew above him. Zack jumped out of the small crater onto a more level ground. He twirled his blade a few times before it went ablaze. He leapt into the air while holding his blade behind him until he was within a few feet of it. His sword radiated a massive amount of energy allowing him to pass through the monster. He quickly spun around and slashed at it several times while the hurtled toward the earth. He used his sword to break his fall and chuckled.

“Summons aren’t meant to be used like this. What happened to dreams and honor?” Zack said. Genesis kept his back to him.

“We are…monsters. We have neither dreams nor honor.”

Genesis left Zack standing there by flying away with one black wing. Zack looked up into the sky while black feathers fell like snow. He held up his hand and allowed one to fall into it.

“SOLDIER…doesn’t mean monster.”

Explosions went off as he left the village. A helicopter landed in front of him. Before he got on it he looked behind him. “Angeal…”